I am very sorry to have to report this but, in my experience, black people are, on the whole, far more racist than whites. I am NOT saying ALL blacks but most of the day-to-day ones (and I am certainly not, under normal circumstances, referring to black musicians).

Please bear in mind that I was educated at an international school with boys from all races, creeds and colours and we all learnt tolerance for each other. I later spent much of 30 years in London, probably one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. I have several good friends in England and Austria (and around the world via FaceBook) who are black. By black, I include both Africans and Afro-Americans.

However, here is one example of racism as I have experienced it in Vienna:

My best friend here, Betty, was born in Antigua of Afro-American parentage and brought up in London - she is a wonderful professional singer and has a great voice for blues, soul, jazz and gospel. She invited me to a gig for Africans in Vienna at which she had been invited to guest sing. When we got there, I felt immediately very strong resentment at my being there because (1) I am white and (2) because I was accompanying a black woman. Their immediate response was to do their best, aggressively, to tell me I was not welcome and that I should leave. I had done nothing wrong. Betty started arguing with them, telling them I was her personal guest and she had been booked to perform there that night. The voices started getting louder and then suddenly, the headline singer appeared at the front desk (a Nigerian prince) and told them in no uncertain terms that if I was not allowed entry, he, his musicians, and Betty would all leave too and they would have no music for the evening. They gave in, very reluctantly. Once inside though, I never stopped feeling the hatred from the majority, staring at me like I was something the cat had dragged in BUT all those black guys had WHITE women with them! Seems they like the idea of a black man with a white woman but a black woman should only ever be with a black man? How hypocritical can you get?

I have never experienced the above in the opposite circumstances - blacks are always welcome wherever I go.

Another thing, blacks can call whites 'honky' but only a black can call a black a 'nigger'? I hate that word in any case and would never use it but it does seem very 2 faced, don't you think?

Follow That Dream

Sam
Karaoke King

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Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what